Patricia Mashiri- Zim Now Reporter
In a village where tradition once cast a long shadow of silence and fear, a beacon of change has emerged in the unlikely form of Gibson Jenami, the esteemed traditional leader of Katizagombo under Zvimba North.
Chief Katizagombo has bravely stepped into the arena, challenging centuries-old harmful practices and resolutely standing against the devastating tide of early marriages that has long torn families apart in his community.
Armed not with spears or shields, but with the potent tools of modern media, Chief Katizagombo has become an inspiring warrior, shattering barriers and illuminating the path towards ending these deeply entrenched harmful traditions. His progressive approach has not only educated his own community but is sending ripples of awareness across the nation.
During a recent media workshop, passionately hosted by Population Solutions for Health, Chief Katizagombo spoke with unwavering conviction about his tireless efforts to safeguard the girls in his community. His commitment to leveraging the power of the press is remarkable.
“I am open to the media because I need my community to gain a crucial understanding of the wider world, aligning our traditions with the laws of the country,” Chief Katizagombo declared.
“Every Thursday, during my traditional court sessions, I actively invite the media to witness and capture the stories I handle. This allows them to publish these narratives in their various outlets, including the vast reach of social media, ensuring that others become aware of what is happening.”
His innovative approach extends to embracing digital platforms. “Journalists even put recordings of my traditional court sessions on YouTube, broadening the viewership and ensuring that the consequences of abusing a girl child become widely known. This, I believe, is a powerful deterrent that will help curb abuse within our communities.”
Since his installation as chief in 2012, Chief Katizagombo has spearheaded significant progress in an area predominantly reliant on farming, where knowledge of girls' rights was once scarce. Tragically, young girls in the community were often married off as early as the tender age of twelve.
“Each community has its own unique practices,” Chief Katizagombo emphasized, keen to dispel the generalization that all traditional leaders perpetuate early marriages. “I became chief in my community in 2012. At that time, child marriages were rampant; girls were being married off as young as twelve.”
He recounted the dire situation he inherited: “The community lacked traditional leaders who could guide people on the right way of life. When I assumed my role, the importance of education was not understood. Now, I am proud to say that many of the children I personally encouraged to attend school have blossomed into leaders within our community’s schools.”
His proactive stance extends to law enforcement: “I work closely with the police in my area, and they are all well aware of my unwavering commitment as an anti-child marriage advocate.”
While Chief Katizagombo champions change from within tradition, the broader context of child marriage in Zimbabwe reveals complex underlying factors. Poverty emerges as a significant driver, with a staggering 50.8% of girls from the poorest households married early, starkly contrasting with the 13.2% from the wealthiest families.
Furthermore, a lack of education exacerbates the risk, with girls having no schooling or only primary education being significantly more likely to enter early marriage.
Camilious Machingura, Director of the Zimbabwe Community Development Association, highlights the interconnectedness of social vices, noting that child marriages, drug use, and gender-based violence contribute to national and mental health challenges. He emphasizes the need to address deep-seated attitudes and perceptions rooted in culture, religion, and evolving social norms.
“Socialization itself is creating problems in how it grooms boys and men, sometimes leading to violent interactions with intimate partners,” Machingura explained.
He further pointed to the alarming role of religion in perpetuating child marriages. “Child marriages are on the increase due to economic issues, but we must delve into the darker depths of these issues, particularly religiously driven child marriages. Religion holds immense power, and some sects resist change, with followers manipulated and patronized into believing change is unnecessary.” Machingura also suggested that some leaders within these sects might resist change due to underlying personality issues, such as narcissism, often unbeknownst to their communities.
The national statistics paint a sobering picture: approximately 33.7% of girls under the age of 18 are married, translating to a staggering 1.7 million girls and women. Alarmingly, around 5% of girls, roughly 285,700 individuals, are married before reaching the age of 15.
Within Zimbabwe, Mashonaland West province bears the unfortunate distinction of having the highest prevalence of child marriages, with a shocking 52.1% of girls married before the age of 18, and 2.2% before the age of 15. This high rate is largely attributed to the economic activities prevalent in the province, including mining and tobacco farming, which can create environments where child marriage is seen as an economic strategy or a cultural norm.
Against this challenging backdrop, Chief Katizagombo's courageous stand shines even brighter.
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